Shelby H.
From the stories i listened to i learned many things about the past. During this time it was hard to find a job and when you did find a job it was normally very dangerous and didn't pay very well. For instance, when i was listening to Chris Thorsten(http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/thorsten.html) talk about his job it surprised me. He was an Iron worker in 1938, he said in his interview "You weren't an iron worker unless you got killed." Then he talked about how he got hurt on the job and was out of work for a very long time. I wouldn't want to have to work at that time, because it sounds so dangerous. Back then they didn't have any safety rules or equipment, if you got hurt then you got hurt there was nothing you could really do. Another interview that surprised me was the interview of Anna Novak (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/anna.html). In her interview she talked about her job and how she had to give her boss presents on every holiday. I would never want to give my boss presents for every holiday especially if i did not have a lot of money like they did. I think it is very unfair that they had to do that. No one should be forced into spending their own money on someone else. Especially since they weren't even being paid that well at their jobs. The last interview that i listened to and learned about was an interview of Mrs.Marie Haggerty she was a maid (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/marie.html). After listening to this interview it really surprised me what people would do for money. I could not believe that people would only hire people they thought looked trustworthy. Then they would also test the maids to see if they would actually steal any money. When Mrs.Marie was saying that she was being tested with a five dollar bill it really showed how much that little bit of money meant back then. Now a days 5 dollars isn't all that much, but back then it was a lot of money.
Taylor B.-
I learned alot from exploring oral history. The Great depression was a hard time for people as a whole. Many, many people were struggling and found it hard to make ends meet. Kids and adults were picking up as many jobs as they could, to make what seems like pocket change now-a-days. Along the time of The Great Depression, there were many jobs in many different industries. There were Iron workers, stone cutters, mill workers, store workers, and department store workers. There were even street workers, some maids, or party hostess'. Each job specialized in a different skill, each man sepparated from the next by ability of skill.
(http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/alice.html) Alice Caudle, a mill worker, describes what it was like in the mill. She talks about how she first worked as a spinner, but when new machines came in, she adjudsted in order to move up in the line. During this time, skill was not the only factor that could sepparate someone from another person, it was also the color of your skin. (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/jimcole.html) Jim cole, who was a packing house worker in chicago, was held back from a good oppurtunity because of the color of his skin. Cole wanted to be apart of the AFL Union, but he was never let in because he was black. The complexion of your skin should never be a factor in deciding whether you qualify for a position in anything. Gender also affected your ability to work. Several jobs that men were able to obtain, women were not. Instead many women became maids, or housewifes, and struggled to show men that they could be independent. (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/eliza.html) Mrs. Elizabeth E. Miller, was a housewife, and mother to five children. She was asked if she ever had to do any work that a man would regularly do, and to answer the question she recalled one time she dressed a 550 pound hog alone. Gender, skill, and the color of your skin could sepparate any man from the next at this time. The Great Depression bropught out the worst in some people, and the best in others. Chris S. -
From the interview I just read I have realized people’s strength and perseverance in this time of need.The people from the interviews show a strong state of mind while dealing with their tough times.Like Chris Thorsten, who was badly injured and out of work for years until he returned (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/thorsten.html).He had broken a bunch of ribs and even vertebrae in his back, but he stayed strong and returned to his tough job, an iron worker, a couple years later.As well as Alice Caudle, who persevered through most of her life, starting when she was only ten years old to work at the mill (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/alice.html).They also went through the terrible racism of that time.People like Jim Cole were ignored and didn’t get things they deserved because of their race; he was African-American (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/jimcole.html).He was an amazing butcher back then, and had heard of a union forming, but the only reason he wasn’t accepted in was because of his race.I also realized that the people of these times have attitudes that one can only dream of having today.Attitudes like “I can do it, with no one’s help” was shown by the 90-year-old Elizabeth E. Miller when she single handedly transferred a 550 lbs pig from a tree outside all the way to her house by herself (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/eliza.html).Overall I learned of people’s thoughts and feelings toward their work and their life and also how they overcome problems in their way.
Thomas B.-
After listening to the interviews from the people of the depression era, I was deeply intrigued by the historical information portrayed orally and the lives of the people expressed through there own words.One overlying theme that resided throughout the commentary by the different people was that of the hardships and dangers of working.As Chris Thorsten, an iron worker in the depression era, said, “You ain’t an Iron worker unless you get killed…” (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/thorsten.html)This theme of danger at work seemed to also be prevalent in the stonesheds as Mr. Garavelli stated simply, “Silica, that’s what kills them.” (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/garavel.html)Another intriguing message I received from the interviews was that of a mixed message on the sense of belonging from being in a job.Some workers such as Alice Caudle, the mill worker, and Jim Cole, the packing house worker, expressed a certain sense of pride for being in their business and believed highly in themselves as productive and efficient workers. (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/alice.html) (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/jimcole.html) "Law, I reckon I was born to work in a mill,” Alice Caudle expressed with admiration for her job.Other workers were not shy about hiding their disdain for the troubling working conditions of the time.Irving Fajans, a department store worker, tried to unionize his workplace at the severe disapproval of his boss. (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/irving.html)These contrasting views of the depression-era workplace attested to the differing opinions of the people of the time.Some people seemed to hold the workplace as a special part of their life while a vocal majority of those interviewed were spiteful of the rights they felt were being denied to them.Americans faced hard times in the depression-era and these interviews showed that their views of the world changed with the changing time.
From the stories i listened to i learned many things about the past. During this time it was hard to find a job and when you did find a job it was normally very dangerous and didn't pay very well. For instance, when i was listening to Chris Thorsten(http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/thorsten.html) talk about his job it surprised me. He was an Iron worker in 1938, he said in his interview "You weren't an iron worker unless you got killed." Then he talked about how he got hurt on the job and was out of work for a very long time. I wouldn't want to have to work at that time, because it sounds so dangerous. Back then they didn't have any safety rules or equipment, if you got hurt then you got hurt there was nothing you could really do. Another interview that surprised me was the interview of Anna Novak (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/anna.html). In her interview she talked about her job and how she had to give her boss presents on every holiday. I would never want to give my boss presents for every holiday especially if i did not have a lot of money like they did. I think it is very unfair that they had to do that. No one should be forced into spending their own money on someone else. Especially since they weren't even being paid that well at their jobs. The last interview that i listened to and learned about was an interview of Mrs.Marie Haggerty she was a maid (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/marie.html). After listening to this interview it really surprised me what people would do for money. I could not believe that people would only hire people they thought looked trustworthy. Then they would also test the maids to see if they would actually steal any money. When Mrs.Marie was saying that she was being tested with a five dollar bill it really showed how much that little bit of money meant back then. Now a days 5 dollars isn't all that much, but back then it was a lot of money.
Taylor B.-
I learned alot from exploring oral history. The Great depression was a hard time for people as a whole. Many, many people were struggling and found it hard to make ends meet. Kids and adults were picking up as many jobs as they could, to make what seems like pocket change now-a-days. Along the time of The Great Depression, there were many jobs in many different industries. There were Iron workers, stone cutters, mill workers, store workers, and department store workers. There were even street workers, some maids, or party hostess'. Each job specialized in a different skill, each man sepparated from the next by ability of skill.
(http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/alice.html) Alice Caudle, a mill worker, describes what it was like in the mill. She talks about how she first worked as a spinner, but when new machines came in, she adjudsted in order to move up in the line. During this time, skill was not the only factor that could sepparate someone from another person, it was also the color of your skin. (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/jimcole.html) Jim cole, who was a packing house worker in chicago, was held back from a good oppurtunity because of the color of his skin. Cole wanted to be apart of the AFL Union, but he was never let in because he was black. The complexion of your skin should never be a factor in deciding whether you qualify for a position in anything. Gender also affected your ability to work. Several jobs that men were able to obtain, women were not. Instead many women became maids, or housewifes, and struggled to show men that they could be independent. (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/eliza.html) Mrs. Elizabeth E. Miller, was a housewife, and mother to five children. She was asked if she ever had to do any work that a man would regularly do, and to answer the question she recalled one time she dressed a 550 pound hog alone. Gender, skill, and the color of your skin could sepparate any man from the next at this time. The Great Depression bropught out the worst in some people, and the best in others.
Chris S. -
From the interview I just read I have realized people’s strength and perseverance in this time of need. The people from the interviews show a strong state of mind while dealing with their tough times. Like Chris Thorsten, who was badly injured and out of work for years until he returned (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/thorsten.html). He had broken a bunch of ribs and even vertebrae in his back, but he stayed strong and returned to his tough job, an iron worker, a couple years later. As well as Alice Caudle, who persevered through most of her life, starting when she was only ten years old to work at the mill (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/alice.html). They also went through the terrible racism of that time. People like Jim Cole were ignored and didn’t get things they deserved because of their race; he was African-American (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/jimcole.html). He was an amazing butcher back then, and had heard of a union forming, but the only reason he wasn’t accepted in was because of his race. I also realized that the people of these times have attitudes that one can only dream of having today. Attitudes like “I can do it, with no one’s help” was shown by the 90-year-old Elizabeth E. Miller when she single handedly transferred a 550 lbs pig from a tree outside all the way to her house by herself (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/eliza.html). Overall I learned of people’s thoughts and feelings toward their work and their life and also how they overcome problems in their way.
Thomas B.-
After listening to the interviews from the people of the depression era, I was deeply intrigued by the historical information portrayed orally and the lives of the people expressed through there own words. One overlying theme that resided throughout the commentary by the different people was that of the hardships and dangers of working. As Chris Thorsten, an iron worker in the depression era, said, “You ain’t an Iron worker unless you get killed…” (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/thorsten.html) This theme of danger at work seemed to also be prevalent in the stonesheds as Mr. Garavelli stated simply, “Silica, that’s what kills them.” (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/garavel.html) Another intriguing message I received from the interviews was that of a mixed message on the sense of belonging from being in a job. Some workers such as Alice Caudle, the mill worker, and Jim Cole, the packing house worker, expressed a certain sense of pride for being in their business and believed highly in themselves as productive and efficient workers. (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/alice.html) (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/jimcole.html) "Law, I reckon I was born to work in a mill,” Alice Caudle expressed with admiration for her job. Other workers were not shy about hiding their disdain for the troubling working conditions of the time. Irving Fajans, a department store worker, tried to unionize his workplace at the severe disapproval of his boss. (http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/irving.html) These contrasting views of the depression-era workplace attested to the differing opinions of the people of the time. Some people seemed to hold the workplace as a special part of their life while a vocal majority of those interviewed were spiteful of the rights they felt were being denied to them. Americans faced hard times in the depression-era and these interviews showed that their views of the world changed with the changing time.